The Washington Football Team hasn’t been known for putting out a stellar defensive unit. That changed quickly under head coach Ron Rivera’s first year. They allowed 329 points across 16 games in the regular season in 2020. That was good for fourth-best in the NFL, ranking just below recognized top-tier defenses in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and the Los Angeles Rams.
Can the WFT improve on these numbers and lead the NFL in scoring defense? They benefitted from a weak NFC East division and an overall easy schedule. Things won’t be as easy in 2021, but they will have all their impact players along with promising newcomers.
DraftKings Sportsbook offers “Least Points Conceded” under their season specials. The WFT is set at +1100, which is very favorable compared to other teams. Only the Ravens have more favorable odds.
Looking At The Washington Football Team Defense
Specifically, the defense excelled at stopping opponents in the red zone, the passing attack, and overall efficiency. That level of performance should transfer over into 2021. Both the front seven and the secondary of the defense remain at the top of the NFL.
Defensive end Chase Young made an immediate impact on the team with his pressure efficiency. For specific season-long player totals, Young has his regular-season sack total set at 8.5 sacks. His partner in creating pressure, Montez Sweat, does an even better job at reaching the quarterback.
Analyzing Odds For Least Points Conceded
It’s always tempting to shoot for value in season-long betting props when looking at potential winnings. For example, the Steelers have always been known for stout defense and their odds are set at +1800. A simple $100 bet could translate into a $1,900 payout for the winner with this selection.
Washington has made great strides in its defense with new leadership. They’ve had proven success in the second half of the season. If it wasn’t for their slow start in allowing 30 or more points in five of their first seven losses, they may have led the league in scoring defense. Sitting at +1100 odds is already good value for the potential of this defense.
How Does The Upcoming Schedule Look?
One significant aspect of this bet is the transition of difficulty in the strength of schedule. The WFT had one of the easiest schedules in the league a season ago. After finishing at the top of the NFC East, they now see tougher opponents. It’s also not likely their division can be as bad as it was a season ago.
They get a manageable start at home but face a short rest period between the first two weeks. Then their first two road games are back-to-back in Buffalo and Atlanta. They face the Saints, Chiefs, Packers, and Broncos prior to their bye week, and then it’s a home game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers right after.
Football becomes less difficult after that prior to a division-heavy finish. The final five games consist of Dallas, Philadelphia, and the New York Giants. A lot of pressure will be on this team should they be in postseason contention by this point.
Sports Betting Recommendation
It’s hard to not like Washington’s chances to have the top-scoring defense in 2021. They arguably had the best overall defense in the league over the second half of last season. A number of playmakers star on the defensive unit in various positions.
The problem keeping this a slam dunk is the team’s schedule. It is going to be a difficult first part of the season when taking on four high contenders to win the Super Bowl. Things will also be very tight at the end of the season with multiple division contests.
Go ahead and put some small money on the odds as they remain over +1000 heading toward kickoff.
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